Wind power generator and velocimeter

Patent · Tue Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6471917

Chang, D B

An electrical power generating apparatus is described comprising: a conduit receptive of fluid flow for channeling the fluid flow along a predetermined path wherein the conduit has a fluid flow input section and a flow region constructed to maintain laminar fluid flow; baffle means disposed in the conduit in the path of the laminar fluid flow and shaped to form vortices in the fluid flow; and a plurality of piezoelectric transducers disposed axially within the flow region in the path of the laminar fluid flow for producing an electrical signal in response to stress created in the transducers by the vortices, wherein a portion of the baffle means is cylindrically shaped, the portion having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to the predetermined path, and wherein the predetermined diameter is selected such that the Reynold's number representative of fluid flow at the baffle is in the range from 40 to 300.

• Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Co., Los Angeles, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5223763; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-661977
• OSTI ID: 6471917
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 28 Feb 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
PZT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
WIND POWER PLANTS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DYNAMIC LOADS
LAMINAR FLOW
PIEZOELECTRICITY
STRESSES
VORTEX FLOW
VORTICES
ELECTRICITY
FLUID FLOW
LEAD COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER PLANTS
TITANATES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONATES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
170603* - Wind Energy Engineering- Power-Conversion Systems